Railway-signal.



No. 683,843. Patented on. I, I901.

F. E. BUTTON.-

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

App1ication filed. Aug. 9, 1900.) (No Model.) I 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR fidw Q/a QZ WU w: ncaals m sns'coq ware-Lynn" WASHINGION. a. c.

N0. 683,843. Patented Oct. l," 1901. F. E. BUTTON.

RAILWAY SIGNAL.

lApplication filed Aug. 9, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2- (No Model.)

- WITNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT QEETCE.

FRANK E. BUTTON, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

RAILWAY-SIGNAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,843, dated October 1, 1901.

Application filed August 9, 1900. Serial No. 26,381. (No model.)

To atZZ 10720771, it IN/(Ly concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK E. BUTTON, a citi zen of the United States, residing at the city of New York, in the borough of Manhattan and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway- Signals, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to automatic railway block-signals operating through the agency of electricity.

The object of the invention is to provide a system, adapted for either single or double track roads, which shall be simple and cheap to install, certain in its operation, and safe to the greatest degree.

My improved system involves a signal at each end of a block, which is set to danger when a car or train enters the block from either end, in combination with a second set of signals automatically operated when the first set are operated to indicate whether a second car or train is entering the block from the opposite direction at the same time. Accidents on single-track roads sometimes occur from the fact that cars enter the opposite ends of a block simultaneously, thus preventing the motormen from distinguishing which of them set the signals and giving to each of them the impression that his car or train was the instrumentality that accomplished this, and thus leading them into collision. The second set of signals referred to are intended to prevent this occurrence,as will be described hereinafter.

The invention also consists of other combinations and constructions, which will be described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a section of the road-bed and elevation of a signal-post. Fig. 2 is a section of the case containing the signal-operating mechanism and showing the latter in side elevation. Fig. 3 is a section on line a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 illustrates the track instrument in detail. Fig. 5 is a diagram of the circuits. Fig. 6 shows a modification of the form of signal and the way of operating it.

The signal mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is for operating a semaphore. The arm is indicated by A. It is pivoted at a and is slightly counterbalanced by a spring a. The

hub of the arm carries a lug a Beneath the hub is mounted a disk I), having teeth b on its periphery arranged some distance apart and upon one face the ratchet-teeth 6 there being twice as many ratchet-teeth as there are of the teeth b. Upon the axis of the disk an arm 0 is pivoted and carries a pawl c, which engages with the ratchet 11 The free end of the arm connects with the core (1 of a solenoidal electromagnet d, said core being normally held in its outer or withdrawn position by a spring (1 WVhen the magnet is energized, it pulls down on the arm 0 and rotates the disk the space of one ratchet-tooth. The lug a on the semaphore projects into the path of the teeth on the disk and is arranged so that with one movement of the disk the semaphore is allowed to fall to the danger position and with the next it is lifted to the safety position. The pawl 23 prevent-s backward movement of the disk.

At each end of a block the track is equipped with a circuit-closer, consisting of a springsupported bar e, placed along the side of one rail in position to be depressed by the wheels of a car and in electrical communication with the rail by any suitable means, such as the flexible conductor 6. Beneath this bar is an insulated contact e, which it touches when it is depressed by the car-wheel.

Adjacent to each end of the block is a signal-post S, carrying a semaphore, and at some near location to each is another signal or indicating device, such as the lamps f and f.

Current to operate the signals can be taken from the feeder of a trolley system or from a special conductor run for the purpose. As shown in the diagram, Fig. 5, the current is supposed to be supplied by a trolley system, of which G is the generator, from which the main conductor 9 leads along the road. At the beginning and ending of each block branches 1 and 2, respectively, lead through the solenoid d to the correspondinginsulated The operation is as follows: \Vhen the block is clear, the semaphore stands in an upwardly-inclined position, as shown by the dotted lines. When a car enters the block traveling from left to right, its wheels depress the bar 6 at the left end of the block to make contact with 6 whereupon a circuit is closed from conductor g through branch 1 to the rail-return and another circuit through branch 2 and wire 3 to the rail-return. Since these two circuits are unevenly balanced as to resistance, the solenoids will be so constructed that they will move their respective cores when energized by such current as will flow in the circuit of higher resistance and so that they will carry the heavier current.

flowing in the circuit of lower resistance.

Hence when these two circuits are closed at the left endof the block both solenoids will be energized and the disks 1) will be rotated the space of one ratchet-tooth, whereupon the tooth b will pass from under the lug a and allow the semaphores to fall to danger. The circuits through the solenoids will be held closed until the car or train has passed beyond the bar 6, the bar being as long as the entire wheel-base of the car or train. hen the last wheel leaves the bar, the circuits will open and the cores of the solenoids will return to their elevated positions under the action of the springs (1 "When the car reaches the right-hand end of the block, the solenoids are again energized by the closure of the circuit at the bar 0 at that end of the block, the lamps being then included in circuit with the left-hand solenoid. The disks are again turned the space of one tooth of the ratchet, whereupon a tooth b pushes against the lug a and elevates the semaphores, the same being held in the elevated position by the tooth b,which remains beneath the lug, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Now as long as one car or train enters a block before another it will set the signals against any other car or train approaching the block; but if at the instant one car is entering at one end another is entering at the other end the signals will go to danger just the same, but each motorman will become aware of the entry of the other by the fact of the lamps not lighting. It will be seen that the cars on entering the block simultaneously will close the circuits through both of the branches 1 and 2 direct to the rail-return, and thus short-circuit the lamps f and f. Hence if the motorma-n observes that the lamps are not burning he will know another car is approaching him on the same track, and he can take the necessary precautions to avoid a collision. It will also be observed that a failure of the lamps to light when a car enters a block might indicate a break in the branch circuit 1 or 2 at the other end, and consequently that the signal there was not working, so that in any case a failure of the lamps to burn should mean proceed with caution.

The lampsfandf are connected in multiple series to reduce to a minimum the possibility of the current failing to flow over the circuit 3, for it is highly improbable that a lamp in each circuit would burn out at the same time.

As a means for indicating whether the signals are working properly or not a local circuit 019 for each block may be used. This circuit, which includes a battery (1 and an indicator 4', has terminal points a and t at each semaphore, which are brought into contact each time the semaphore moves by means of the linger a moving against the lever t, and thus operating the indicator 0'.

Fig. 6 shows means for operating a rotary signal, which may be a disk or plate rotating around a diametrical axis or a four-sided box having different colors painted on its sides. Each movement of the ratchet rotates the signal a quarter-turn by means of the interposed gearing.

In all forms of signal it will be understood that lamps can be arranged as usual to indicate at night in place of the semaphores and that in place of the lamps f and f other signaling devices may be used in the daytime.

Having described my invention, I claim- 1. In arailwaysignalingsystem,ablockprovided at each end with norm ally open circuitclosers adapted to be momentarily closed by the cars, a main electric circuit, parallel branches respectively including said circuitclosers, and each including also electromagnetic signal-operating devices, and another branch circuit connecting the two parallel branches together and including other signal devices, substantially as described.

2. Inarailwaysignalingsystem,ablockpr0 vided at each end with normally open circuitclosers adapted to be momentarily closed by the cars, a main electric circuit, parallel branches respectively including said circuitclosers, and each including also electromagnetic signal-operating devices, and another branch circuit connecting the two parallel branches together at points between said circuit-closers and the electromagnetic signaloperating devices, and including other signal devices, substantially as described.

- In witness whereof I subscribe my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

' FRANK E. BUTTON.

\Vitnesses:

WM. A. ROSENBAUM, FRANK S. OBER. 

